Clarke, Kenneth Harry (1940- )

British Conservative politician. A cabinet minister 1985-97, he held the posts of education secretary 1990-92 and home secretary 1992-93. He succeeded Norman Lamont as chancellor of the Exchequer in May 1993, bringing to the office a more open and combative approach. Along with his colleagues Malcolm Rifkind, Tony Newton, and Patrick Mayhew, in 1996 he became the longest continuously serving minister since Lord Palmerston in the early 19th century. He contested unsuccessfully for the Conservative Party leadership in 1997, 2001, and 2005, with his support for closer union within the European Union losing him substantial support within the party.